After Awareness: What Support for Survivors Looks Like Every Day at YWCA
Sexual Assault Awareness Month may have drawn to a close, but for survivors in our community, the need for safety, healing, and support continues every day.
At YWCA Northeast Kansas, our work doesn't stop at awareness — it begins there. Through our Center for Safety and Empowerment (CSE), we walk alongside survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and stalking all year long, providing free and confidential services that meet the moment and meet the need.
This work isn't hypothetical. It's urgent. It's real. And it saves lives.
📲 A Lifeline in Your Pocket: Expanded Text-to-Chat Hotline
Survivors deserve to be heard — and they deserve options for how they reach out. That’s why we’re expanding our Text-to-Chat Hotline to be monitored daily from 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
One survivor reached out through this hotline because it wasn’t safe to call. They were in danger in their own home and needed help quietly. One of our trained team members helped them create a safety plan and identify places they could go to find safety and support. In their words, the survivor felt “empowered to stand up for their safety.”
These quiet acts of courage often happen behind the scenes — and the support that makes them possible should never be temporary.
💬 When All You Came For Was a Bus Pass
A survivor recently walked into our offices simply needing help with transportation. But with compassion and conversation, it became clear there was more under the surface. They were in a long-term, violent relationship and dreaming of independence — and they were ready.
Our Human Trafficking Case Manager helped them access community resources, develop a safety plan, and begin the journey toward healing. Later, they shared:
“This program has helped me a lot. It has provided me with the help I needed.”
🎨 Healing Looks Different for Everyone
For some survivors, healing comes through quiet reflection. For others, it’s found in connection, creativity, and self-expression. One shelter resident shared that our arts and crafts group was “therapeutic” and “helped me get my mind off of the hard things I am currently going through.” Another survivor who worked with our domestic violence counselor said:
“With your help, I feel lighter and less anxious than I have been in months, if not years.”
This is what holistic, trauma-informed care looks like: meeting survivors where they are, with support that goes beyond survival and into healing.
🧡 Freedom Through Paperwork
For survivors rebuilding their lives after abuse, even basic necessities — like an ID or Social Security card — can be out of reach. One client had escaped a dangerous relationship where their abuser had withheld all of their personal documents. Thanks to the support of our DCF Program Advocate, they were able to obtain everything they needed to live independently in their new apartment.
Their words? Gratitude — and relief.
🌟 Support That Lasts Beyond Awareness
Awareness is important. But survivors need more than hashtags. They need housing. Advocacy. Counseling. Safety planning. Emotional support. Transportation. Food. Clean clothes. A safe place to sleep. A text message that changes everything.
And they need you.
At YWCA Northeast Kansas, we are here every day, doing the work that continues long after the social media campaigns wind down. If you’re moved by what you’ve read, we invite you to:
🔹 Donate to support survivors year-round
🔹 Share this post to spread the message
🔹 Learn more about our services: www.ywcaneks.org/cse
Because when we say Bold. Powerful. Now. — we mean now, tomorrow, and every day after.